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Liz over at Daily Politics has confirmed through GOP sources that Mary Lou Rath will be retiring.
Retirement In The 61st SD:
GOP sources have confirmed a report that Sen. Mary Lou Rath is poised to announce she won't run for re-election in November, touching off what's likely to be yet another battle for an open Senate seat.
The fact that Rath is going to depart the Senate comes as no big surprise - she has reportedly wanted to leave for some time.
What has raised some eyebrows, however, is the fact that she will choose to serve out her term and not step down immediately to force a special election in which the GOP would have the upper hand at keeping her seat.
Rath started making calls to Erie County GOP leaders yesterday to inform them of her decision. One told me that while she wants to serve out her full term, nothing is "set in stone," and she could perhaps be talked into leaving earlier.
This is just my opinion, but I think the only way you'll see this go to the general election in November is if Rath's son is going to run. If he isn't, there might be a possibility that Rath retires early and sets up a special election. But that's just speculation. It definitely sounds like she wants to keep the seat warm for her son, but that might not be the GOP's top choice for the seat.
ALSO: All of this would explain why at least two Erie County Democrats have come forward and wanted to meet with the Genesee County Dems in the last few days. I have a number of great sources down in Genesee County and they've had one meeting with one person who shall remain nameless because he/she is still in the exploratory process. But it all makes sense. Why else would a number of Democratic candidates start looking at running for a seat that has been virtually untouchable with Rath in it?
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